That's what creators of the "Hannah Montana" tour seemed to be saying to young fans.

Until recently, some dishonest sleight of hand was part of the traveling concert production, a pop-music extravaganza based on a hit TV show on the Disney Channel.

APMiley Cyrus and her "Hannah Montana" tour haven't stopped in Alabama. She'll perform in the South -- specifically, in Texas, Louisiana and Florida -- in late January.

Its husky-voiced star, 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, is the latest kiddie sensation, selling out arenas in major cities and prompting shrill screams from thousands of listeners ages 5-12.

Ticket brokers and scalpers scooped up most of the $63 tickets for Cyrus' "Best of Both Worlds" tour within minutes after they went on sale and have been reselling them for exorbitant prices -- typically $350 to $2,000.

Parents across the country, succumbing to their children's pleas, have been shelling out big bucks for the privilege of watching Cyrus perform live for about 90 minutes. On the tour, Cyrus portrays the same character she does on television: a down-to-earth high-schooler who plunks on a blonde wig and transforms into teen idol Hannah Montana.

The "Hannah Montana" TV concept relies on falsehood and duplicity -- in a humorous way, of course -- and Cyrus' character must devise elaborate schemes during each episode to keep her dual identity a secret.

Keeping it real on stage is important, however, if Cyrus is going to establish herself as a promising singer, lay the groundwork for a grown-up career and not end up crazed and confused like Britney Spears.

That means no lip-syncing. No singing on top of guide vocals. No elaborate technical trickery.

Even if gullible youngsters are the primary consumers of the "Hannah Montana" brand, they deserve as much truth and authenticity as hardened skeptics. In fact, it's crucial to present children with celebrity role models who don't twist the facts or mislead them.

Cyrus' handlers didn't seem to care about such issues when they developed her stage show. During a splashy segment of the concert, as Cyrus performed the song "We Got the Party," she was surrounded by dancers, whisked behind a black curtain by a crew member and replaced with a body double.

This look-alike, dressed in the same Hannah Montana outfit as Cyrus, briefly danced on stage with her back to the crowd as Cyrus' vocals (apparently on prerecorded tracks) continued to bounce off the arena walls.

At one show in early January, a flabbergasted fan captured the moment on a video camera, posting it for public scrutiny on YouTube. "Needless to say I was furious!" the fan said in a message accompanying the video clip. "I paid good money to see the concert. I was disappointed and I felt like I was played for a fool."

The resulting controversy cast a shadow over Cyrus' formerly triumphant tour and her wholesome Disney reputation. And rightly so.

How could America's sweetheart engage in such a devious stunt? If Cyrus' producers were willing to fool the audience with a body double, what other shenanigans might they pull?

To its credit, Cyrus' publicity firm issued a written statement that admitted to the use of a body double. The look-alike, it seems, was supposed to make it easier for Cyrus to change her costume without interrupting the flow of the production or stretching the attention spans of audience members.

"Other than during this very brief transitional moment in the show, Miley performs live during the entirety of both the Hannah and Miley segments of the concert," the statement said.

It didn't directly address the issue of lip-syncing. But we can only assume that Cyrus took the microphone away from her mouth when she was being redressed and coiffed.

According to a Tuesday review in the Chicago Sun-Times, the body-double segment has been removed from Cyrus' set. That's a very good thing. Meantime, the incriminating fan video has been zapped from YouTube. No surprise there: evidence removed.

The Sun-Times reviewer, Bobby Reed, must have been watching for signs of lip-syncing during Monday's concert at Chicago's United Center. He noticed that two vocalists sing in lock-step with Cyrus for much of the show -- supporting her with live guide vocals, if you will.

If that's true, it's an interesting way to handle a frontwoman with mediocre pipes, or an active star who's huffing and puffing from vigorous dance steps.

But to my way of thinking, every concert artist, no matter what age, should be able to captivate the crowd with an a cappella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Jesus Loves Me" or some tune from the great American songbook.

Strengths and flaws stand out sharply in this context. Heavy hitters excel. Lightweights cave under pressure. There are no dark corners or hidey-holes.

Can Cyrus, the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, handle such a challenge? One thing is certain: Fans won't find out on the dubious "Hannah Montana" tour.